How to Survive as an Extra

Chapter 112

The place I arrived at after following Kim Seyeon was a conference room on the eighth floor of the building.

The room itself was on the smaller side, but it seemed to handle rather important matters. It was thoroughly soundproofed and fitted with blackout measures, and entry was impossible without a special ID card.

“Then, since I am quite busy, I will be leaving first.”

The moment the conference room door opened, Kim Seyeon informed me that she would be returning to the Bureau.

That was understandable. In times like these, when ominous rumors about Demonic Beings were circulating, the workload of the Special Affairs Division became so heavy that it practically paralyzed operations.

I entered the conference room alone, without Kim Seyeon.

Inside, a woman who appeared to have been waiting for me sprang to her feet. She introduced herself as the person in charge of planning the business for the Gangwon-do forward base.

In other words, she was the official responsible for proposing the construction of a Gangwon-do forward base, a government-led national project.

Hearing that, a question immediately came to mind.

“I heard that the forward base project fell through.”

The media had made a fuss about Hyeonseong failing to secure the national project, but in truth, it was closer to the entire project being scrapped.

The location inside the barrier where the base was supposed to be built had suddenly been deemed unsuitable, making it impossible to even select a contractor.

As a result, all monster-related industry stocks—led by Hyeonseong Express—had suffered an unprecedented plunge.

At a time when monsters were already scarce, the forward base project had been the sole remaining hope. With that gone, there was virtually no room for a rebound.

That was certainly how things stood.

And yet, here was a Hyeonseong employee introducing herself as the project’s lead.

I spoke again.

“So the Suwon administration has not given up. And Hyeonseong has already been chosen.”

The woman nodded emphatically.

“More precisely, it is just before the plan is officially scrapped. That is, if even you, Investigator, with your Demonic Eye, are unable to resolve the issue.”

Demonic Eye…

So it was not me they had named, but my Demonic Eye.

Somehow, that felt about right.

In any case, the fact that the administration had selected Hyeonseong was good news.

In the original work, Hyeonseong had been chosen as well.

Of course, unlike the original, the fact that problems had arisen during the forward base construction was unsettling.

“What exactly is the problem?”

“Before explaining that, it would be best to first go over Gangwon-do and the barrier.”

She manipulated the table, and a portion of Gangwon-do was rendered in light.

The forward base construction site was in the mountainous region of Hongcheon County, Gangwon-do.

From a conventional standpoint, one might think it better to build a base on flat land rather than in the mountains. However, under the current circumstances, the forward base could only be built atop a mountain.

That was because Gangwon-do possessed a uniquely special environment unlike other regions.

“As you know well, Investigator, the most important aspect of this plan is supplying the necessary materials to the base with minimal losses, in a location surrounded by monsters on all sides.”

“The more Hunters stationed at the base, the less monster intrusion there will be, but that also increases the burden of food and lodging, correct?”

“Yes. Additionally, in terms of supply, we need to secure a safe route connecting the barrier and the base. As you can see, the distance between the current barrier and the base is approximately ten kilometers. For an F-rank Hunter, that is a twenty-minute journey. We plan to resolve this issue by using a tunnel.”

“Would not a tunnel be vulnerable to underground-dwelling monsters? And if there is a structural failure, the escape route would be completely cut off.”

“The threat of monsters exists on the surface as well—if anything, it is worse there. As for structural issues, we plan shallow excavation so that it will be possible to emerge to the surface quickly even in the event of a problem.”

“Will the tunnel construction begin from outside the barrier?”

“Yes. That is the only way to properly control access. And construction actually began quite some time ago.”

“By quite some time, you mean…?”

“More accurately, it would be better to say that it has been stalled due to a problem. That is why we are requesting your assistance.”

Reaching a forward base ten kilometers away via a tunnel starting outside the barrier.

Since the base was being built on a mountaintop anyway, using helicopters would have been far more convenient. However, according to the setting, only items could be used in Gangwon-do.

This was a so-called narrative allowance—an established rule meant to turn Gangwon-do into a monster field and encourage the protagonist Lee Eunho’s exploits.

According to the original work, one of the Witch’s tools, the Broom of Gluttony, had fallen into Gangwon-do instead of Seoul during the Great Rift, causing the area to be terraformed into something akin to the world beyond the rift.

The Broom of Gluttony altered Gangwon-do’s environment into one ideal for monster proliferation, resulting in such an overwhelming monster population that barriers were required to contain them.

Up until thirteen years ago, Gangneung had resisted the monsters and enjoyed prosperity rivaling that of Seoul, but…

Well, that was not a story for now.

In any case, due to the Broom of Gluttony, Gangwon-do’s altered soil no longer permitted electricity, communications, or most conveniences of civilization.

Only mana-related things were allowed.

Mana stones were the prime example.

However, transportation or electronic devices powered by mana stones could not be used.

They were not items created entirely from beyond the rift, but merely crude byproducts of magitech.

Even if a helicopter made solely from beyond the rift did exist, it would have been highly likely to be shot down by monsters.

After all, the reason monsters existed was to seize the mana stones of others.

Even a helicopter slicing through the sky would prompt monsters to employ any means necessary to swallow it whole.

Additionally, although high-level species like humans did not possess mana stones, they did have mana, making them targets all the same.

“The reason construction has been delayed is that access to the mountain range itself is difficult. According to the plan, we intended to connect the tunnel to the base of the mountain, then install a large elevator leading to the summit, but…”

She suddenly trailed off, her expression growing grave.

After a moment, she continued.

“For reasons unknown, the workers who went down toward the base of the mountain have disappeared.”

“When you say disappeared, do you mean they were attacked?”

“Unfortunately, we cannot say for certain. At first, we assumed there had been an accident during construction and sent a rescue team. However, they also lost contact, just like the workers.”

I organized my thoughts and spoke.

“For something so dangerous that no one can return from a tunnel with a clearly defined exit… The likelihood of monsters is high.”

“That opinion was raised as well. So we secretly recruited Hunters and sent them into the tunnel.”

“And then?”

“……”

She fell silent.

That was answer enough.

Like the others, they had been wiped out.

I fell into silent contemplation.

This was a development that did not exist in the original work.

Had it been given an episode like before, it would likely have been labeled as an extra.

From my perspective, Hyeonseong needed to build the forward base just as in the original.

Whether to prevent the story from derailing, or for the sake of my own finances.

One thing that bothered me was whether this incident was the intent of the avid reader.

If it was merely retaliation from distorted causality caused by my actions so far, that would be one thing, but…

“……”

For some reason, it felt as though something was constantly drawing me toward the mountain.

Even compared to the original, the forward base was a plotline with very few variables.

Judging from the circumstances, it did not align with mafia interference or schemes by Demonic Beings.

It was difficult to accept unless it was the setting intervention rate of the avid reader.

The woman watched my silence, looking for an opening to speak.

It seemed the situation on site was growing increasingly urgent.

When I finally met her gaze, she spoke as if she had been waiting for that moment.

“I know this will be a difficult investigation. However, this attempt could become a major turning point in the history of awakened society and humanity. It may even mark the beginning of reclaiming the lost Gangwon-do.”

“That may be so.”

“The site is currently preparing to send one last rescue team. They will likely enter the tunnel at dawn tomorrow. We would like you to accompany them.”

I nodded without hesitation.

“That is why I came.”

“Then, may we set aside other matters and discuss the advance payment?”

The topic I had been waiting for.

Investigators of the Special Affairs Division did not receive request fees directly.

All payments went to the division, and after a certain percentage was deducted, the remainder was paid out by the Bureau as performance compensation.

It was a somewhat cumbersome process, but it existed to prevent the investigator’s identity from being exposed.

It was also a measure to prevent investigators from independently accepting requests.

However, that was merely the manual.

In the world of investigations, the meaning of an advance payment was different. It was an unspoken custom asking the investigator to prioritize one’s own problem over other requests.

That was why she had mentioned an advance payment rather than a request fee.

If this case had begun as a standard complaint handled by the Special Affairs Division rather than a designated request, an advance payment would have been unthinkable.

“Before we present the advance payment we have prepared, is there any specific condition you would like to request?”

I had been about to bring it up anyway, and she kindly asked first.

I did not hesitate.

“What I want is Brichalcon. Raw Brichalcon ore.”

“Pardon?”

“I heard that Hyeonseong recently acquired Brichalcon.”

“Ah… Just a moment.”

She looked genuinely surprised, as if hearing it for the first time.

She quickly checked her smartphone and continued.

“You are referring to the Brichalcon purchased about two weeks ago. Unfortunately, that was not under our jurisdiction. We were informed that it has already been used. I apologize.”

“……”

I quickly composed my expression to hide my momentary shock.

I had been far too complacent.

From the company’s standpoint, they would not have purchased it without a need, and there was no way they would have left it untouched for two weeks…

“Instead, the terms we have prepared are not bad either.”

She handed me a document.

It stated that one percent of the equity in the forward base being constructed would be transferred to me.

It was an astonishing offer.

Once the forward base was completed, the profits would be more than sufficient to buy Brichalcon.

Of course, Hyeonseong did not have the authority to transfer equity to me.

In this case, it must have been a condition approved by the Suwon administration.

Even if Hyeonseong built the base, the employer—and owner—of the forward base was the administration.

“Do you need more time to consider?”

That was unnecessary.

I nodded without hesitation.

“That is a relief. Thank you very much for your help.”

She let out a breath and smiled.

Openly showing emotion in front of the contract…

It did not quite suit someone entrusted with a major role at Hyeonseong, but that only showed how urgent the situation was.

I signed the document and received the materials related to the forward base.

As I stood up to leave, a question suddenly crossed my mind.

“You said you are the person in charge of this project. Is it really all right for you to be here in Seoul instead of on site?”

A very basic question.

She answered without attempting to hide anything.

“Oh, Miss Cha Yeri is overseeing the site in my place.”